Greek sources in the Pseudo-Apuleius Herbal: the cure of the vervain against the bite of the rabid dog

Abstract

This paper analyzes the excerpt from the chapter on the herba uerbenaca of Pseudo-Apuleius’ Herbarius offering the cure against the bite of a rabid dog. This excerpt is collated with other Greek and Latin medical sources, while some important manuscripts of the Herbarius are reviewed. Thus, we have detected some additions to the apparently original initial section, which are related to Greek sources, namely Oribasius and Pseudo-Dioscorides’ writings on toxicology. We also obtain some conclusions on neglected readings which might be accepted, and on the presumable existence of ancient Latin translations from Greek medical texts which have not yet been attested.